What are the advantages of juror questions?
Some advantages may include: • The nature of juror questions often alerts the trial judge and the attorneys when the jurors have misunderstood an important point of the evidence or testimony, thus giving them the opportunity to correct the misunderstanding with new witness testimony, closing arguments, or jury instructions on the issue; • Permitting jurors to ask question increases the likelihood that the jury will understand the witness testimony and give it appropriate weight during deliberations; and • Permitting jurors to ask questions helps keep them alert and engaged in the trial proceedings, thus increasing satisfaction with jury service.
